Population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa

South Africa: Population in moderate or severe food insecurity was 13,348 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
13,348
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
26th
of 130 countries
All-time high
13,348
in 2024
All-time low
10,181
in 2018
Years of data
7
2018–2024

Population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa, 2018–2024

05.0k10.0k15.0k2018202120242018: 10.2k2019: 10.8k2020: 11.5k2021: 11.8k2022: 12.4k2023: 12.8k2024: 13.3k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa stood at 13,348. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.

That places South Africa 26th out of 130 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

Population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (thousands of people) in South Africa, 2018 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2018 10,181
2019 10,841 +6.5%
2020 11,507 +6.1%
2021 11,801 +2.6%
2022 12,445 +5.5%
2023 12,798 +2.8%
2024 13,348 +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 10,511 10,181 10,841 2
2020s 12,380 11,507 13,348 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Colombia 14,824 compare
  2. 24 Argentina 14,476 compare
  3. 25 Niger 13,589 compare
  4. 27 Chad 13,133 compare
  5. 28 Ukraine 12,224 compare
  6. 29 Côte d'Ivoire 12,093 compare

See the full ranking of 165 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa?
Population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa was 13,348 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest population in moderate or severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 13,348 in 2024.
What is the lowest population in moderate or severe food insecurity recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 10,181 in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for population in moderate or severe food insecurity?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 130 countries with data for 2024.
Is population in moderate or severe food insecurity rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (thousands of people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population in moderate or severe food insecurity in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/population-in-moderate-or-severe-food-insecurity-thousands-of-people/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (thousands of people)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
165 places, 1,607 data points, 2014–2025
Last refreshed